Hello, friends!
An interesting thing that I have noticed as I have been riding for this past year or so. Actually, I didn't really notice until a few weeks ago, but it's something that I have been (or rather HAVEN'T been) doing ever since I started this blog. I am talking about rounding.
Let me give you an example. Let's suppose that I think I am going to be on campus for 5 hours for a given day. I get to the meter and I put in $5 to give me 5 hours worth of time (so as to not get a ticket). But, because a student cancels a meeting, I forget something back at home, or some other unforeseen circumstance, I am actually on campus on 4 hours. Well, the meter doesn't give change, so I pretty much blew an hour's worth of meter money. Isn't that the saddest thing in the world?
What are my options at that point? I could gamble, put in 3 hours worth of time and hope that I don't get a ticket. I could run back and forth from the meter to wherever I am so that I get things exactly right. Neither of those really works for me. The first one always ends up costing more ($10/ticket) and the second one just isn't efficient. So, if I drive, I end up overpaying and just accept that this is part of life.
However, that is one more joy of biking. I get to campus when I get to campus. I leave when I leave. There's no need for me to try to guess how long I will be there and hope that I get it right as I drop coins into the meter. I am totally free to do what I want for as long (or as short) as I want and not feel guilty about wasting money. If anything, I am saving even more money. Hooray!
Stats:
Places traveled: Campus, Olive Cafe, home, plasma, and campus again.
Distance traveled: 7.4 miles (sorry, the link isn't working) ($.72)
Meters: 6 hours on campus ($6) + 2 hours downtown ($1.20) + 3 hours on campus ($3)
Total: $10.92
Grand Total: $296.41
Left to Save: $286.62
Friends! We are past the halfway point! Hooray!!!
Happy Biking!
~Adam
The story of a guy trying to rationalize the money he spent on his bike and other random thoughts.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
One Stellar Week...
Hello, friends!
This week was a banner week for Penny Peddling. Not only was it a week where Sulu and I rode for more days than we didn't but today we also totally made us some meter money. Allow me to break it down for you.
Tuesday: I spent 2 hours downtown donating plasma then another 5 on campus doing work.
Wednesday: Home with a migraine... bummer.
Thursday: 7 hours on campus doing work.
Friday: I rode all over town (my mechanic, Staples, Sam's Club, downtown), spent 2 hours downtown donating plasma and another 3 on campus tabling for religious life at Mizzou.
These are the weeks that make me believe that we still have a shot of making all this money back in a reasonable period of time. These are the weeks that make me write this blog. These are the weeks that make me love riding so much.
There are few things that I enjoy more than riding my bike. I am currently at a retreat for Mizzou ACF but I made sure to bring my bike so that I could ride tomorrow morning. It's way more fun than running. It's way more fun than driving in the city. It's WAY more fun than walking everywhere. Biking pretty much rocks. =0).
Here are this week's stats:
Places traveled: Plasma, campus, home, campus, then from my mechanic's to campus, to plasma, to Sam's club, to campus, then back to my mechanic's.
Distance traveled: 7.5 miles + 6.7 miles = 14.2 miles ($1.43)
Meters: 4 hours downtown ($2.40) + 15 hours on campus ($15)
Total: $18.83
Grand Total: $285.49
Left to Save: $297.54
Happy Biking!
~Adam
This week was a banner week for Penny Peddling. Not only was it a week where Sulu and I rode for more days than we didn't but today we also totally made us some meter money. Allow me to break it down for you.
Tuesday: I spent 2 hours downtown donating plasma then another 5 on campus doing work.
Wednesday: Home with a migraine... bummer.
Thursday: 7 hours on campus doing work.
Friday: I rode all over town (my mechanic, Staples, Sam's Club, downtown), spent 2 hours downtown donating plasma and another 3 on campus tabling for religious life at Mizzou.
These are the weeks that make me believe that we still have a shot of making all this money back in a reasonable period of time. These are the weeks that make me write this blog. These are the weeks that make me love riding so much.
There are few things that I enjoy more than riding my bike. I am currently at a retreat for Mizzou ACF but I made sure to bring my bike so that I could ride tomorrow morning. It's way more fun than running. It's way more fun than driving in the city. It's WAY more fun than walking everywhere. Biking pretty much rocks. =0).
Here are this week's stats:
Places traveled: Plasma, campus, home, campus, then from my mechanic's to campus, to plasma, to Sam's club, to campus, then back to my mechanic's.
Distance traveled: 7.5 miles + 6.7 miles = 14.2 miles ($1.43)
Meters: 4 hours downtown ($2.40) + 15 hours on campus ($15)
Total: $18.83
Grand Total: $285.49
Left to Save: $297.54
Happy Biking!
~Adam
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
It's Hot!!!
Hello, friends!
Y'all, it is hot here in Missouri. Like, 104 degree hot. Like, not want to go outside hot. Like, who would be silly enough to go golfing (or biking) in this weather hot. Oh, wait, that's me.
Confession time. This heat isn't actually all that bad to me. I don't know exactly what it is. I don't mind the cold and I don't mind the heat. I just kind of survive.
Actually, there are a few advantages to biking in this oppressive heat. First, the heat is really only bad if you are standing still. So long as I keep on moving, there is a nice breeze. The faster I am moving, the stronger the breeze, the better I feel. Thus, biking is superior to walking (more breeze) and driving (windshield stops the breeze), so long as I am not stuck at a light for too long.
Second, I think I am actually saving MORE money during this time biking instead of driving because I don't have to deal with air conditioning. I suppose I could go without it, and I often do, either just running the fan or rolling down the windows. However, all of these options still lower the fuel economy of the Rolla, making biking an even more appealing option.
In conclusion, biking in heat is awesome and everyone should do it. Just remember to stay hydrated. =0).
Stats:
Places traveled: Campus twice and plasma once
Distance traveled: 8.0 miles ($.78)
Meters: 3.5 hours on campus ($3.50) + 2 hours downtown ($1.20)
Total: $5.48
Grand Total: $266.66
Left to save: $310.89
Happy Biking!
~Adam
Y'all, it is hot here in Missouri. Like, 104 degree hot. Like, not want to go outside hot. Like, who would be silly enough to go golfing (or biking) in this weather hot. Oh, wait, that's me.
Confession time. This heat isn't actually all that bad to me. I don't know exactly what it is. I don't mind the cold and I don't mind the heat. I just kind of survive.
Actually, there are a few advantages to biking in this oppressive heat. First, the heat is really only bad if you are standing still. So long as I keep on moving, there is a nice breeze. The faster I am moving, the stronger the breeze, the better I feel. Thus, biking is superior to walking (more breeze) and driving (windshield stops the breeze), so long as I am not stuck at a light for too long.
Second, I think I am actually saving MORE money during this time biking instead of driving because I don't have to deal with air conditioning. I suppose I could go without it, and I often do, either just running the fan or rolling down the windows. However, all of these options still lower the fuel economy of the Rolla, making biking an even more appealing option.
In conclusion, biking in heat is awesome and everyone should do it. Just remember to stay hydrated. =0).
Stats:
Places traveled: Campus twice and plasma once
Distance traveled: 8.0 miles ($.78)
Meters: 3.5 hours on campus ($3.50) + 2 hours downtown ($1.20)
Total: $5.48
Grand Total: $266.66
Left to save: $310.89
Happy Biking!
~Adam
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